Last November may have been the first time Palm Springs Power pitcher C.J. Broussard believed he could be a major league pitcher. During a scouting showcase with scouts on hand from a handful of teams in Major League Baseball, Broussard’s fastball reached 94 mph. He displayed unyielding control on his curveball, and showed a few other tricks he had in his repertoire.

Several teams contacted Broussard, 20, after the workout, saying they’d strongly consider him in the 2017 MLB Draft, which began Monday.

After three days of waiting, Broussard’s name was called Wednesday, when he was selected by the Minnesota Twins with the first pick in the 22nd round.

“The entire process is a roller coaster,” said Broussard, a Ramona native who played collegiately at Cal State Los Angeles. “But the dream, aspiration and work ethic was always there. And now to get drafted by a Major League Baseball team is a dream come true.”

Some scouting reports believe Broussard can be a sleeper in the draft if he can trim down from 260 pounds. He throws hard, is extremely young for someone with three years of college experience (he won’t turn 21 until October 21), and with nine home runs and a .318 batting average, can even hit and play first base in a pinch.

Other teams saw Broussard’s potential as well. The Boston red Sox, Broussard’s favorite team growing up, had contracted him, saying they would be looking at him closely between rounds 15-20. The San Francisco Giants told Broussard they’d consider him in rounds 11-15.

Once he officially signs a contract, Broussard will head to Tennessee to play rookie ball. He isn’t sure about the rest of the process, but he’s going to give it his best shot and take it one step at a time from here.

“It was never about the money that comes with this,” Broussard said. “It was always about being able to play the game I love at a high level, and I’m excited for a chance to so that.”

Coachella Valley natives also selected Wednesday

A pair of La Quinta High School graduates were also selected by Major League Baseball teams Wednesday. Clay Fisher, a shortstop at UC Santa Barbara, was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds with the second pick in the 27th round.

Fisher, who has played three years in college, graduated from La Quinta in 2014. As a senior for the Blackhawks that year, he batted .436 with 44 hits, scored 27 runs and hit eight doubles, leading to Desert Valley League to make the all-CIF First Team. He began starting at UCSB as a true freshman.

Taylor Bryant, another La Quinta grad, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 33rd round. Bryant, 22, is currently playing second base and shortstop in the College World Series for Cal State Fullerton. Fisher played in the College World Series a year ago.

The two of them join Jeremiah Estrada from Palm Desert High School, who was selected in the sixth round by the Chicago Cubs, as Coachella Valley natives selected in the draft this year.